Carrier-Grade ISP Infrastructure | Firstnet

Ask FirstNet about Connectivity

Fibre Connectivity. Reimagined

We don't just provide fibre access. We design, integrate and manage fibre alongside LTE/5G, wireless, LEO satellite, SD-WAN and security. We manage the outcome, not just the fibre link.

What's included

Business fibre, specified

  • Symmetric or asymmetric, uncapped business fibre
  • Uncontended on local (on-net) traffic
  • International contention capped at 1:4, only during undersea cable failures
  • FirstNet-managed router, monitored through PRTG
  • Up to two static public IPs by default
  • Dedicated, uncontended variants available for mission-critical sites
  • Availability targets up to 99.5% on premium networks, 99% on standard

Quick answers

How is business fibre different from home fibre?

FirstNet business fibre is uncontended on local traffic, carries last-mile uptime targets with a service-credit schedule, and includes a managed router, PRTG monitoring and 24x7 NOC support.

How long does a fibre installation take?

Typically several weeks to months, depending on construction, wayleaves and landlord approvals. If you need to open sooner, we can deploy LTE/5G in days while the fibre is built.

Can we add a backup link?

Yes, and we recommend it for any site where downtime costs revenue. Licensed microwave gives air-versus-trench diversity, LTE or FWA gives fast failover, and secondary fibre on another carrier adds carrier redundancy.

Can we connect our own firewall?

Yes. We hand off Ethernet from the FirstNet-managed router and your firewall connects behind it.

Why managed fibre

Fibre is the access. We deliver the outcome.

Your users don't care about the underlying fibre provider. They care whether Microsoft 365, voice, payments and business applications work when they need them.

Designed around your business

Some sites prioritise cloud access; others depend on voice, CCTV, ERP or point-of-sale. We design for the requirement, not a standard product.

Built-in resilience

Even fibre fails. We combine fibre with LTE/5G, wireless or LEO satellite to keep critical sites online.

One point of accountability

We coordinate underlying providers, monitor performance and drive escalations through to resolution.

From access to outcome

How we deliver

Design

We assess your requirements and design the right connectivity architecture for each site and application.

Delivery

We coordinate access providers, provisioning and implementation from order to activation.

Visibility

We monitor performance and availability across your managed connectivity environment.

Resilience

Where continuity requires it, we design alternative paths using LTE/5G, wireless or LEO satellite.

Support

We manage incidents, coordinate supplier escalations and drive service restoration.

Fibre that fits

Where fibre works hardest

Primary connectivity

Stable, business-grade connectivity for offices, branches, campuses, warehouses and operational facilities.

Multi-site connectivity

Consistent connectivity, visibility and control across locations through a centrally managed architecture.

Cloud and applications

Reliable access to Microsoft 365, SaaS platforms, cloud environments and business-critical applications.

Scalable infrastructure

Increase bandwidth and add locations without rethinking your entire connectivity strategy.

FAQs

Questions,
answered.

Straight answers from the FirstNet team.

More in the Knowledge Hub →
What contract terms are available?

Fibre is a fixed-term monthly service, typically over 12, 24 or 36 months, with three calendar months' notice. Upgrades need one month's written notice and extend the term by at least 12 months.

Is speed guaranteed on business fibre broadband?

No. Standard business fibre broadband is best-effort beyond FirstNet's core network, so throughput can vary with wider internet conditions, and a web-based speed test on its own is not treated as proof of under-performance. Local on-net traffic is uncontended. If your site needs committed, guaranteed bandwidth, the right service is Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) or a dedicated fibre variant, which is designed with you case by case.

How many static IP addresses come with business fibre?

Business fibre includes up to two static public IP addresses by default: one is used on the FirstNet-managed router and one is available for your own use, for example for VPN or remote access. Additional public IPs can be added as an option as your site grows. All allocated IP addresses remain the property of FirstNet.

Is FirstNet business fibre symmetric and uncapped?

FirstNet business fibre is uncapped and is available as either symmetric (equal upload and download) or asymmetric, depending on the network and product chosen. It is contended (best-effort) by default, but uncontended on local on-net traffic. For mission-critical sites a dedicated, uncontended fibre option can be designed case by case, and premium fibre networks can support higher availability targets than standard fibre networks.

How do I find out if business fibre is available at my address?

FirstNet runs a feasibility check on your exact site address across every fibre network operator that may serve it, then confirms with a quote from the last-mile provider. GPS coordinates help, especially for new developments and rural sites. Feasibility outcomes can change once detailed planning is done, and where fibre is not feasible FirstNet assesses licensed microwave, fixed wireless, LTE/5G and, as a last resort, LEO satellite.

Which fibre networks does FirstNet use?

FirstNet is carrier-agnostic and works with the major ICASA-licensed fibre network operators, such as Vumatel, Frogfoot, Openserve and MetroFibre. It procures Layer 2 access circuits from these operators and runs its own internet service over them, giving you end-to-end IP connectivity from the FirstNet core network to your site. Because FirstNet is not tied to one operator, a primary and a backup link can be placed on different networks for genuine diversity.

Your place in the stack

Connectivity is layer 1 of 5.

Enriched by Sovereign AI Reach the AI Factory over FirstNet’s own network, with a direct, low-latency path that stays on South African soil. Explore the AI Factory →

  1. Sovereign AI
  2. Voice
  3. Security
  4. Cloud
  5. Connectivity

Bring us a problem.
We’ll show you the stack that solves it.

Ask FirstNet for an instant answer, or leave your details in the chat and the right specialist will contact you.

Call